A philosopher is someone who practices "philosophy, which involves "rational inquiry into areas that are outside either "theology or "science.[1] The term "philosopher" comes from the "Ancient Greekφιλόσοφος (philosophos) meaning "lover of wisdom". The coining of the term has been attributed to the Greek thinker "Pythagoras (6th century BC).[2]

In the "classical sense, a philosopher was someone who lived according to a certain way of life, focusing on resolving "existential questions about the "human condition, and not someone who discourses upon theories or comments upon authors.[3] Typically, these particular brands of philosophy are "Hellenistic ones and those who most arduously commit themselves to this lifestyle may be considered philosophers.

The separation of philosophy and science from theology began in Greece during the 6th century BC.[5] "Thales, an astronomer and mathematician, was considered by Aristotle to be the first philosopher of the "Greek tradition.[6]

While "Pythagoras coined the word, the first known elaboration on the topic was conducted by "Plato. In his "Symposium, he concludes that Love is that which lacks the object it seeks. Therefore, the philosopher is one who seeks wisdom; if he attains wisdom, he would be a "sage. Therefore, the philosopher in antiquity was one who lives in the constant pursuit of wisdom, and living in accordance to that wisdom.[7] Disagreements arose as to what living philosophically entailed. These disagreements gave rise to different "Hellenistic schools of philosophy. In consequence, the ancient philosopher thought in a tradition.[8] As the ancient world became schism by philosophical debate, the competition lay in living in manner that would transform his whole way of living in the world.[9]

Among the last of these philosophers was "Marcus Aurelius, who is widely regarded as a philosopher in the modern sense, but personally refused to call himself by such a title, since he had a duty to live as an "emperor.[10]

According to the "Classicist "Pierre Hadot, the modern conception of a philosopher and philosophy developed predominately through three changes:

The first is the natural inclination of the philosophical mind. Philosophy is a tempting discipline which can easily carry away the individual in analyzing the universe and abstract theory.[11]

The second is the historical change through the Medieval era. With the rise of Christianity, the philosophical way of life was adopted by its theology. Thus, philosophy was divided between a way of life and the conceptual, logical, physical and metaphysical materials to justify that way of life. Philosophy was then the servant to theology.[12]

The third is the sociological need with the development of the university. The modern university requires professionals to teach. Maintaining itself requires teaching future professionals to replace the current faculty. Therefore, the discipline degrades into a technical language reserved for specialists, completely eschewing its original conception as a way of life.[12]

In the fourth century, the word philosopher began to designate a man or woman who led a monastic life. "Gregory of Nyssa, for example, describes how his sister "Macrina persuaded "their mother to forsake "the distractions of material life" for a life of philosophy.[13]

Generally speaking, university philosophy is mere fencing in front of a mirror. In the last analysis, its goal is to give students opinions which are to the liking of the minister who hands out the Chairs... As a result, this state-financed philosophy makes a joke of philosophy. And yet, if there is one thing desirable in this world, it is to see a ray of light fall onto the darkness of our lives, shedding some kind of light on the mysterious enigma of our existence.

In the modern era, those attaining advanced degrees in philosophy often choose to stay in careers within the educational system. According to a 1993 study by the "National Research Council (as reported by the "American Philosophical Association), 77.1% of the 7,900 holders of a PhD in philosophy who responded were employed in educational institutions ("academia). Outside academia, philosophers may employ their writing and reasoning skills in other careers, such as medicine["vague], "bioethics, business, publishing, "free-lance writing, media, and law.[17]

^Shook, John R., ed. (2010). Dictionary of Modern American philosophers (online ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. Introduction. "doi:10.1093/acref/9780199754663.001.0001. "ISBN "9780199754663. "OCLC686766412. (Subscription required (help)). The label of "philosopher" has been broadly applied in this Dictionary to intellectuals who have made philosophical contributions regardless of an academic career or professional title. The wide scope of philosophical activity across the timespan of this dictionary would now be classed among the various humanities and social sciences which gradually separated from philosophy over the last one hundred and fifty years. Many figures included were not academic philosophers but did work at the philosophical foundations of such fields as pedagogy, rhetoric, the arts, history, politics, economics, sociology, psychology, linguistics, anthropology, religion, and theology. Philosophy proper is heavily represented, of course, encompassing the traditional areas of metaphysics, ontology, epistemology, logic, ethics, social/political theory, and aesthetics, along with the narrower fields of philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, philosophy of law, applied ethics, philosophy of religion, and so forth